The Fish Cellar — a cozy gem

On Main Street in Mt. Kisco lies a gem of a restaurant – – The Fish Cellar. This restaurant owned by Joe and Joni DiMauro really is a treat. Down the steps into a warm and cozily lit dining room one finds a perfectly sized bar for dining alone or with a friend, a well-stocked and presented raw bar and tables just perfectly separated as to fit a crowd without feeling crowded.

Felipo, our waiter of Sicilian heritage, was attentive and made us feel right at home. The buzz in the room isn’t overwhelming and the crowd is well-heeled in a classy/casual way.

The dishes are not complex but flavorful and presented beautifully.

Crispy and tender buttermilk fried calamari had just the right zing paired with the Thai sriracha. Crisp head of romaine lettuce in an herb vinaigrette with shaved Parmesan had a cool and flavorful crunch to wake up the palate and very simply presented.

The Ricotta Gnocchi could have been more tender. When made from ricotta, Italians refer to the dumplings as “Gnudi.” Have definitely had better, however the lobster marinara was well-balanced with flavorful little pieces of lobster meat throughout.

The Yellow Fin Tuna is served rare in a soy and ginger glaze – – so fresh and tender with a crunchy peanut black pepper crust. The soba noodles on the side with tahini complement the fish very well.

One very interesting dish is the Swordfish Chop which literally is Frenched and on the bone – – a rarity. Tender, moist and delicious. This was topped with a mushroom and tomato reduction and paired with a creamy potato gratin which almost had the mouth-feel of a silky polenta with a hint of blue cheese. Delicious.

The wine list has something for most and the cocktail menu is fun and creative. One interesting drink is the “Healthtini” which is made from organic vodka mixed with fresh pomegranate juice. I will say it is more on the vodka side and the cocktail had just a blush of pomegranate. No complaints though!

The owners have a long history of being “green” and have a very strong environmental ethic. They also own Mt. Kisco Seafood which has provided some of the best seafood to Westchester for over 30 years. They know their craft.